Simplified Bracing Method

Streamlines Design
PERFORMANCE WALLS

Rear side  60 ft

Right side
Left side
 60 ft

Circumscribing
rectangle

Front side
APA Simplified
Wall Bracing
Method:
A Simple Solution
for Wall Bracing
■ Minimum 7/16" or thicker
OSB or plywood sheathing

■ Savesdesign time and

associated costs

■ Faster
permitting and
quicker plan review

■ Saves money on metal

connectors and their
installation

■ Increased
design flexibility
for windows and doors

■ Resultsin a strong,
fully sheathed structure
©2013 APA – THE ENGINEERED WOOD ASSOCIATION • ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. • ANY COPYING, MODIFICATION, DISTRIBUTION OR OTHER USE OF THIS PUBLICATION OTHER THAN AS EXPRESSLY AUTHORIZED BY APA IS PROHIBITED BY THE U.S. COPYRIGHT LAWS.

APA Simplified Bracing Method: Simpler Bracing, Simply Stronger

Builders don’t have to compromise on strength to meet the bracing provisions of the International Residential Code
(IRC). APA’s Simplified Wall Bracing Method, an enhanced variation on the 2012 IRC simplified wall bracing provisions
(Section R602.12), gives builders an affordable, streamlined approach to meeting wall bracing requirements for single-
family homes.
■ Most builders are already using 7/16" OSB or 15/32" plywood for wall sheathing on exterior walls. By simply using
these products and increasing the number of fasteners from 6-inch o.c. spacing to 4-inch o.c., builders are well on
their way to meeting the requirements of the Simplified Bracing Method.
■ Requirements are easy to understand and apply, saving design time.
■ Code officials find this method easy to understand, saving time in permitting and field inspections.
■ The Simplified Bracing Method includes bracing units as narrow as 16 inches that can be constructed on-site with
common construction components, so the costs for narrow structural segments are minimal. In fact, this bracing
method goes beyond the scope of the simplified bracing provisions in the IRC, by recognizing the contribution of
below minimum bracing lengths in continuously sheathed walls.
■ Walls built according to the Simplified Bracing Method requirements are stronger than code minimum construc-
tion, which means that shorter segments can be recognized for their contribution to the wall bracing system.
Houses designed with shorter bracing segments allow more room for windows, doors and other special design
features. In short, builders have more design flexibility.
■ A house that is fully sheathed with 7/16" or thicker wood structural panels is simply stronger. The walls can with-
stand more wind pressure loads, provide a solid nailbase for siding and trim, and make the house a safer refuge
in storms.
APA SIMPLIFIED BRACING STREAMLINES DESIGN ANALYSIS

Wall Lines
5 Traditional Wall Bracing
Traditional wall bracing must consider
many wall lines, wall line spacing,
off-sets in wall lines, lengths of each
wall line, and many various multi-
pliers and bracing methods. Each wall
4 line (1-5 and A-D) must be analyzed.

A B C D
Wall Lines

Rear side  60 ft
New Simplified Wall Bracing
With this method, the builder only
needs to consider four walls, a
few simple calculations, and one
bracing method.

Right side
Left side
 60 ft

Circumscribing rectangle

Front side
4
E asy Steps to APA Simplified Wall Bracing Design
Recommendations for the APA Simplified Wall Bracing Method are detailed in four steps in the
APA System Report SR-102: APA Simplified Wall Bracing Method Using Wood Structural Panel Continuous
Sheathing, available for free download at www.PerformanceWalls.org. System Reports are APA publications
that apply research and technical evaluation to innovative design solutions, using engineered wood systems
that may not be directly prescribed in the codes, but can be used as alternatives to the prescribed systems for
code compliance.

Check the design of the house to make sure that it meets the criteria for the Simplified
STEP 1

Bracing Method. (Refer to the System Report SR-102 for a full list of criteria.)

Draw a box around all of the exterior walls of the house, measure the front-to-back and
STEP 2

side-to-side lengths and use the table in the System Report SR-102 to determine the amount
of bracing required for each side. Use the wall height multipliers to calculate the final
amount of required bracing based on the height of the wall.

Measure the length of each wall segment that is sheathed to the full wall height, without
openings. Using the tables in the System Report SR-102, determine which segments are
STEP 3

long enough to be counted as braced wall segments and record the contributing length
of the segments in each of the four walls. These simple calculations allow the designer to
reach the bracing requirements while providing for more window and door areas.

Add all of the contributing lengths of wall bracing segments in each of the four walls and
STEP 4

compare the total of each wall to the required bracing length determined in Step 2. If the
total is equal to or greater than the final required amount of wall bracing determined in
Step 2, the design meets the bracing requirements of the System Report SR-102.

Larger Houses
If the house plan has walls longer than 60 feet, the APA Simplified Wall Bracing Method can still be applied by
dividing the floor plan into rectangles. Refer to System Report SR-102 for recommended steps.
PERFORMANCEWALLS.org

For complete recommendations and design tables, refer to the

APA System Report SR-102, available for free download from the APA website.
For more information on wall bracing and APA design and construction
recommendations, go to www.PerformanceWalls.org.

Simplified Bracing Method Streamlines Design

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D i sc l a i m e r
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continuing programs of laboratory testing, product research, and comprehensive field
experience. Neither APA, nor its members make any warranty, expressed or implied, or
assume any legal liability or responsibility for the use, application of, and/or reference to
opinions, findings, conclusions, or recommendations included in this publication. Consult
your local jurisdiction or design professional to assure compliance with code, construction,
and performance requirements. Because APA has no control over quality of workmanship
or the conditions under which engineered wood products are used, it cannot accept
responsibility of product performance or designs as actually constructed.

Form No. P310/Issued March 2013/0100